Propeller construction



l Jan. 17, 1933. G. A. WOOD PROPELLER CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 11. 1950 Patented Jan. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES .GAB/HELD .5L WQOD, OF ALGONAC, MICHIGAN PROPELILER CONSTRUCTION Application led yOctober 11, 1930. Serial No. 487,925.

This invention relates to a propeller mounting and construction particularly adapted for use in conjunction with motor boats. It hasbeen found, after extensive experience with outboard motor boats, that the axis of wetted surface is a comparatively smal-lareaV at the stern of the hull. The propeller should be so located that the consumption of power necessary for the attainment of the higher speeds shall not be unduly large and, having discovered that the ylocation of the axis of the propeller wheel has an important bearing on this subject, the present invention is concerned with the construction lof a practical, simple .and efficient mechanism for making a .suitable universal joint connection betweenthe driving shaft from lthe engine and the propeller wheel which is mounted to turn about asubstantially rhorizontal axis; and further to provide a means whereby the `axis vof the propeller wheel may be adjusted so that the best results can .be 0btainedl f An understanding of the invention for the attainment of the ends stated be' had from the following description, taken in connection with the Iaccompanying drawing, in which, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a motor boat equipped with `my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal vertical section through :the universal joint noted and the mounting for the propeller wheel, and illustrating in side elevationthe means for effecting an adjustment of the axis of the propeller wheel, and,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical Asectionthrough the joint connection between the driving Vshaft and the hub .of the propeller.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different-figures of the drawing.

The hull 1 of the motor .boat may be of any '55; desired design, ythe driving shaft 2 from the engine to the `propeller' wheel extending downwardly and to the rear at an .angle to the horizontal. The hull is equipped with the usual rudder 3 which is no way concerned en? with the present invention. At the rear end and under-.side of the hull infront of the rudder a, strut 4 is permanently secured, `extending'downwardly from the hull to which, at its lower end, an arm 5 is piv-otally connected 651 at i6, .as best shown in Fig. 2,` having .an integral bearing 7 at its lower end. The arm is extended to the rear from the point where it is pivotally connected to the strut and then turned upwardly .as at .8 to lie back of the 792 strut 4. A screw threaded'rod 9 is attached at ,its front end to a U-shaped stirrup 1Y0 embracing and pivotally connected to the strut 4 near its upper end and adjacent its rearV edge. The rod 9 passes freely through a col- 75- lar at the upper end -of the extension 8 of arm 5 and nuts .11 are threaded on the rod 9, one in front and the other in back of said collar. A

' It is evident that by adjusting the posi- 805; tions of nuts 11 the arm 5 maybe turned about the pivot 6 and the bearing 7 changed in position so that its axis may be substantially horizontal or, if desired, tilted vdownwardly from its rear to its front end to a slight de- 85,@

` gree.

The propeller wheel hub 12 has the usual propeller vanes 13 extending radi-ally therefrom and is located at the front end of `and inv alinement with the bearing 7. A shaft 14 ex- 9.0". tends from the hub 12 rearwardly through the bearing 7 is threaded at its rear end and receives securing and locking nuts 15, as shown. The head 12 at its front end is re-` cessed and is formed with a plurality of 95 spaced apart longitudinal grooves 16 in the sides of the recess. The recess is of smaller diameter farther back in the hub and is interiorly threaded, as indicated at 17. A thrust head 18 is screwed into the recess 17. 100

lindrical head 2O in which, at a plurality of spaced apart points around the head, somewhat elongated recesses 21 aremade, one opposite each of the recesses 16 and 21 opposedto each other, it being evident that the torque from the driving shaft may be readily transmitted to thepropeller through the ball,

connection made and that the change of angle which takes place when the driving shaft and propeller are rotated is fully taken care of by the construction described.

The rear end of the head 2O also has a concave semi-spherical recess therein in which a ball 23 is located which, at its rear side, bears against the front concaved end of the head 18, previously described. This provides a practical thrust joint `which is necessary for the proper connection of the driving shaft 2 to the propeller when the axis of rotation of the propeller is at other than in alinement with the axis of the drive shaft.

The construction described has proved very practical and efficient for the purposes for which it is designed and permits the relative adjustment of the propeller to its drive shaft without detriment to the driving connection between them and with a saving in power consumed, particularly at the higher rates of speed.

It isto be understood that the thrust of the propeller is transmitted to the drive shaft 2 and thence by said drive shaft to a suitable bearing .within the hull of the motor boat, so that the entire thrust of the propeller urging the boat forward is transmitted from the head 18 through the ball 23 to the driving shaft. rlChe ball 23 not only is amply able to sustain this thrust but it also greatly lessens any friction there may be between the parts as will be obvious.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim: f

l. ln combination with a motor boat having a hull, a strut depending from the lower side of the hull near its rear end, a substantially horizontal bearing sleeve carried at the lower end ofthe strut, a propeller having a huhlocated at the front end of the bearing sleeve and having a shaft extending from the rear side of the hub through said bearing sleeve, said hub at its front end being recessed and having a plurality of longitudinal grooves in the sides of said recess, a driving shaft extending downwardly and to the rear from said hull at an angle to the horizontal to the recess in the hub of the propeller, the rear end portion of the driving shaft extending into said recess, said rear end portion of the driving shaft having a plurality of longitudinal grooves therein located opposite the grooves in the recess of said hub, balls disposed in the grooves of the propeller shaft and ksaid hub, and a thrust bearing disposed between the rear end of the drive shaft and the inner end of Vsaid recess.

2. ln combination with a motor boat having a hull', a strut secured to and depending from the lower side of the Vhull near the rear end thereof, a substantially horizontal elongated bearing sleeve carried at the lower end ofthe strut, a propeller having a cylindrical hub located at the front end of the sleeve, and having a shaft extending from the rear end of the hub through said sleeve, said hub of the propeller being recessed at its front end, a drive shaft extending downwardly and to the rear at an angle to the horizontal from the hull to saidhub of the propeller,

the rear end portion of the drive shaft being received in said recess, universal driving connections between the rear end portion of the driving shaft and said hub of the vpropeller, a ball located at the rear end of Vsaid driving shaft, a member threaded into the inner portion of said recess in the propeller hub against which vthe ball bears, and means for adjusting said member in the direction of the length of the axis of saidy bearing sleeve.

3. In combination with a motor boat having a hull, a strut depending from the hull at the bottom thereof and near its rear end,

` tion of the recess. a rod extending from said member longitudinally of and through the shaft, a driving shaft extending downwardly and to the rear from the hull at an angle to the horizontalhaving its rear end received within the recess of saidpropeller hub, universal driving connections between the rear end of the driving shaft and propeller hub within the recess and a spherical ball located between the rear end of the driving shaft and said threaded bearing member and bear-V 123eV l ing against the concaved front end of the bearing member, the rear end of the driving shaft having a semi-spherical recess in which the ball is seated.

4f. In combination with a motor boat having a hull, a strut depending from the bottom of said hull and near the rear end thereof, an arm pivotally mounted between its ends near the lower end of the strut, an elongated sleeve bearing at the lower end of the arm adapted to be located with its axis substantially horizontal, means interposed between the opposite end of the arm and said strut for adjusting the arm and the bearing sleeve carried thereby to different positions, a propeller mounted on and located in front of j said bearing sleeve for rotative movement, a

driving shaft extending downwardly and to the rear at an angle to the horizontal from said hull to the propeller, and driving and thrust bearing connections between the rear end of the driving shaft and said propeller.

5. In combination with a boat having a hull, a. substantially horizontal elongated bearing sleeve located below the rear end portion of the hull, means for securing the sleeve to the hull, a propeller rotatably mounted on and carried by said sleeve, a driving shaft extending downwardly and to the rear from said hull to the propellenuniversal driving connections between the rear end portion of the driving shaft and the propeller, and a thrust bearing between the rear end of the driving shaft and said propeller.

6. In combination with a boat having a hull, an elongated b-earing sleeve located below the lower side of the hull at the rear end portion thereof, means for mounting the sleeve on said hull for adjustment, whereby the sleeve may be adjusted to locate its longitudinal axis substantially horizontal or inclined at a slight angle to the horizontal, a propeller mounted on and carried by said sleeve, a driving shaft exten-ding downwardly and to the rear from the hull at an angle to the horizontal, universal driving connections between the rear end portion of the drive shaft and said propeller, and a thrust bearing between said propeller and the rear end of the driving shaft.

7. In combination with a boat having a hull, a strut attached to and depending from the hull at the rear end thereof, an arm pivotally mounted between its ends adjacent the lower end of the strut, an elongated bearing sleeve located substantially horizontal connected to said arm below the strut, said arm above the pivot extending to one side of and back of the strut and having a collar at its upper end, a threaded rod pivotaily mounted at its front end on said strut and extending through the collar, nuts on the rod, one in i front and the other back of the collar, a propeller rotatably mounted on and carried by said bearing sleeve, a driving shaft extending downwardly and to the rear lfromlthe hull, universal driving connections between the rear end portion of the'fdriving shaft and said propeller, 2i-thrust bearing located between the rear end of the driving shaft and the propeller, and adjustable means for i'naintaining a snug engagement for said thrust bearing between the drive shaft and propeller. j

8. In combination with a motor boat having a hull, a propeller for driving the same, a strutrigidly projecting below said hull, means attached to said strut for rotatably mounting said propeller on a rigidly maintained axis, said propeller mounting means being adjustable relative to said strut for the purposeof varying'the vertical inclination of said raxis relative to the hull and means for driving said propeller. i

9'. The elements in combination defined in claim 8, wherein the said means for mounting said propeller is located at the rear ofV said propeller. v

10. In combination with a motor boat having a hull, a propeller for driving the same, means for mounting said propeller beneath said hull to rotate on a rigidlyv maintained axis, said mounting means combining means whereby the vertical inclination of the axis of the propeller relative to the hull can be altered and means for rotating said propeller, said means for rotatably mounting said propeller being located at the rear of said propeller.

11. In combination with a motor boat having a hull, a propeller for driving the same, means for mounting said propeller beneath said hull to rotate on a rigidly maintained axis, said mounting means combining means whereby the vertical inclination of the axis ofthe propeller relative to the hull can be altered and means for rotating said propeller, said means for rotatably mounting said propeller being located at the rear of said propeller and the means for driving said propeller comprising a shaft extending forwardly of said propeller.

12. In combination with a motor boat having a hull, a propeller for driving the same, means for mounting said propeller beneath said hull to rotate on a rigidly maintained axis, said mounting means combining means whereby the vertical inclination of the axis of the propeller relative to the hull can be altered, means for rotating said propeller, said means for driving said propeller comprising a shaft extending forwardly from said propeller and thrust bearing means associated with said propeller and said shaft and arranged to transfer the thrust of said propeller to said shaft.

13. The elements in combination defined in claim 8, wherein the said means for rotatably mounting said propeller is located at the rear of said propeller and the means for lli) IBO

driving said propeller comprises a shaft ex-V tending forwardly of said propeller;

14. The elements in Combination defined in ,claim 8, wherein said mea-ns for driving said propellereomprises a shaft extending forwardly from said propeller and thrust bearing means associated with said propeller and said shaft and arranged to transfer the thrust of said propeller to said shaft.

15. In combination with a boat hull, a propeller for driving the same, bearing `means for mounting said propeller to rotate on a lrigidly maintained axis, adjustable means for varying the vertical inclination of the axis of said propeller relative to the hull without appreoialoly altering the vertical po-, sition of the propeller relative to the hull, means for driving said propeller, said means for driving said propeller comprising a shaft extending forwardly from said propeller, and thrust bearing means associated with said propeller and said shaft and arranged to transfer the thrust of said propeller to said shaft. y

In testimony whereof I aiiix my si nature.

GARFIELD A. W OD. 

